Most exciting news in a while! Went to see my surgeon this morning (yay for 6.30am start) to pick a date for my fusion. 13th November it is. He went through the operation with me, explaining what goes where and what kind of a scar I will have. It'll be quite a big one, about 15cm or so. Thankfully it'll run along my spine instead of being on my stomach or on the side, so I'm sure I won't even notice the scar at all.

The most amusing thing about today was when the surgeon was explaining the op was him saying ".. and we will place these plastic cages where your discs USED TO be..". So what he's saying is that I have very little or no discs left around the slip. No wonder I'm sore. :D

Anyways, since there's still quite a way to the operation, I've decided to sign up for a gym membership at the local Fitness First with my other half. He's been talking about going to the gym for ages but I've kinda been umming and arring about it because of my back. Thankfully Fitness First offers some PT sessions when you sign up, so hopefully I will be able to talk with a PT and come up with a fitness plan so I don't hurt myself.



The workout front has been very quiet otherwise, mainly because of the weather. It's just so hot during the day that I don't want to go out for more than half an hour and four nights out of seven I can't go out when it's reasonably cool (in the evenings). Even today was just a quick spin around a field around the corner, took me 20 minutes or so. It's just not pleasant having to walk under the searing heat of the sun, especially when I don't really have proper exercise clothes for this kind of weather. I'm actually down to one pair of decent exercise trousers, need to do some retail therapy and buy more.. :D


But yeah, the blog will start turning into a workout blog soon! I'm so very excited about the gym, I can start working out properly and attend all kinds of classes they offer. Mainly looking at pilates and yoga, everyone keeps telling me how good they are if you've got any back problems. Can't wait!

It has been a very long day. I was admitted to hospital at 12.30am and I had to wait until 4.20pm before I was taken in the operating theatre. Lots of pictures, a little less text this time. Still very tired and dizzy after the sedative.

I had a small explorative operation called discography today. I wasn't cut open or anything, they pretty much poked my spinal disc with a needle.







I didn't feel as nervous as I thought I would. I was a bit cranky though. I couldn't have coffee in the morning and couldn't eat so lack of caffeine and low blood sugar gave me an insane headache. I was meant to be taken in to the operating theatre around 2pm but had to wait an extra 2,5 hours.

Going in the operating theatre was quite fun actually. One of the people looking after me actually spoke Finnish to me! A British guy, told me his wife is Finnish and we had a little chat in Finnish. I quite liked the sedative as well haha. The guy put it in my vein, wheeled me in the actual operating theatre, asked me to roll over on my stomach and off I went to la-la land. :D The next thing I know is that I'm tucked in my hospital bed, waiting to be taken back to my room.

I was discharged around 8.30pm. I am so happy that my other half waited for me patiently all that time. It made me a lot calmer about the whole process today. <3

Yesterday was one of those days when I wanted to post, but was too lazy to do it. So here goes, two days worth of rambling.

I had to go to the hospital again yesterday. When I booked the appointment I was under the assumption that it'd be all kinds of medical tests, such as blood tests and so on. I got there, waited around for 15 minutes and got called in. And all I had to do is sit there for a minute while the nurse poked me with swab sticks. Felt like a waste of time as it could've been done after my previous appointment with the surgeon instead of making me travel all the way there for such a small thing.

I mean I understand they need to do it because of possible bacteria and infection risks as I will become an inpatient next week. Having my injection test done next Wednesday, getting a bit nervous about it. I asked my other half to take the day off work if he possibly can, I'd love to have his support before and after the op.

While I was waiting at the hospital I couldn't help noticing my calves again. Just look at how huge they are getting!! Sure, the perspective is a bit off there but that's just incredible. I haven't really done proper workouts for probably a month now because of all the ankle and knee issues I've had but the muscle mass thankfully hasn't gone anywhere. It's the same with my arms really, the definition is still there despite the lack of exercise. Yay!


 And time for today's stuff. :) I haven't been feeling my best today so lunch was just a simple tuna salad with beetroot and a bit of ranch dressing. It was really lovely but didn't really make me feel any better. Just been sitting here like a lemon since lunch, waiting for this odd feeling to go away. I have been doing little bits and pieces to take my mind off it, though. For example, there was a cool offer for a 30 day free trial for Jillianmichaels.com on Facebook so decided to try it out. The exercise database is incredible, I've been copypasting the exercises on Word since last night so I can print them out and use them even when my free time runs out. A bit naughty but oh well.




And off to see another doctor tomorrow about my disability benefit claim. This is the second time I've been booked in to see someone at this place as last time it got cancelled (and nobody told me until I got there). Just hoping that the paperwork I have will be enough to convince them that I've actually got something wrong with me instead of trying to leech money off them...

Long weekend and a lot of other commitments have meant that my dear blog hasn't been getting the attention it deservers. Back to it now, though!

So, let's talk about Holland! Incredibly amazing weekend, I don't get to see these people too often so I made sure to make the most of it. We mainly stayed in a town called Amersfoort where my friend lives and also did a day trip up to Amsterdam. Lots of good food, drinks and brilliant company. We also made some initial plans for my birthday in October. :)



Thankfully my ankles decided to start healing up over the weekend as well. My right ankle is still a bit sore at times but the left one has been fine since Sunday. Hooray! I did feel a bit funny having to use flats all weekend but it really paid off, I'd take flats over painful ankles any day. So this'll also mean that I'll be able to get back to working out properly!

And speaking of getting back to working out, I'll probably start going to the gym soonish (when I can afford it that is). A very dear friend of mine has moved to Bognor so I'll have him as company when I fancy going to the gym. ^^

And just to give you guys a quick update on my back! I got the MRI results back yesterday and the next step is to get something called an injection test done. Simply put the disc above the slipped vertebra is damaged and the surgeon wants to have a better look at it to know what to do with the fusion. Obviously the disc under the slip is absolutely mauled after years of constant pressure, but if the upper one is left as it is it'll only start causing problems in a few years.

I've still got a few weeks to go to the test but the nerves are definitely kicking in now. It's all getting very real.

Right, let's start with the more important topic of the day. MRI scan! It went well, took about 10-15 minutes in total. The machine is so funny. When it's not "on" it kinda makes this train like sound. When it's taking the images, it's like being thrown into the middle of a full blown rave. Once again the staff was incredible! I love going to a private hospital, you just get a completely different feel to everything. The hospital doesn't have it's own MRI unit so instead I was escorted to this mobile unit that was parked up in front of the hospital. It was so cool. :D


I also spoke to my mother in law (she's a nurse) about my ankle this morning. Told her that it's been hurting for nearly one and a half weeks now and isn't getting any better so she had a look at it and said I've simply overdone it with exercise and damaged the tendons. She wrapped my ankle in a proper dressing and suggested me to take anti-inflammatory painkillers and use this ibuprofen gel we've got. And you know what? My ankle feels a million times better now. I'm hoping that the painkillers / gel and rest will make this pain in the ass injury heal up quick. I'm dying to get back to working out.

Today was the most exciting day in my life for a long time. I had an appointment with a back surgeon! We had a quick chat about my options and he said that he is very keen on operating on my back so I decided that it's what I'm going for. My back is just limiting my life so much right now. I'm out of work, 75% of housework is out of the question (can't lift heavy things and can't bend over so can't wash floors / hoover), I can't stand up for long periods of time.. I'm having an MRI scan done next week to see if the damage in my spine is limited to my lower back or if I've got more wonky bits somewhere else. I'm kinda hoping that it's just my lower spine, though.


I felt really comfortable at the hospital as well, which was such a nice surprise. The hospital is an old school so you don't really get the awful clinical feeling when you walk in. The surgeon was lovely and the nursing staff incredibly helpful and friendly. I was greeted by an east European nurse and to my surprise actually pronounced my last name right! Hoorah! :D

I'm quite positive about all this. The surgeon said that it's possible to get all the scans, tests and the actual operation done by the end of the year. Three month recovery after that and I should be able to get back into living my life properly. I really can't wait.